Chatham Bars Inn Planning & Tips

All about the Extras
Included in the inn's renovations is a new fitness center with a variety of cardio and weight machines, along with classes in yoga, water aerobics, kickboxing, and other workout sports.

The inn can arrange babysitters through an outside service.

The Art of Smart Timing
Chatham Bars Inn is open all year, though by far the most popular time to come is during the summer months, when the Cape is in full swing and the heat and humidity cry out for a dip in the ocean. High season here is longer than some other New England resorts -- lasting from June to September, the same time that the resort offers its vaunted kids' program. So-called "shoulder" season, when rates are slightly lower are only in May or October, both of which can be iffy weather-wise. While you can generally be assured of warm weather in May, a cold-snap is always a possibility until Memorial Day (and even beyond; this is New England after all!) Furthermore, because of the resort's location right on the Atlantic, the ocean really isn't warm enough for swimming until June -- or July or August if you are a wimp with the cold. It remains warm enough for swimming through September, though temperatures drop precipitously after Labor Day, and water sports are really not a reliable option in October.

Getting there
Chatham is located on the extreme southeast tip of Cape Cod. It's a two-hour drive from Boston without traffic along Route 3 and US Route 6; and approximately five-and-a-half hours from New York along Interstate 95 and US 6. It's important to time the trip right, however, especially on summer weekends when traffic can make the trip interminable. Avoid leaving on Friday afternoons at all costs -- it's worth it to leave Thursday or Friday morning, or else wait until Friday night when you can have the roads to yourself, even if it means arriving late on Friday with the kids sleeping in the backseat.

The closest major airport is Logan International Airport in Boston, which offers rental car accommodations of all kind. It's also possible to fly from Boston to the regional Barnstable Municipal Airport, from which you can rent a car for the half-hour drive to Chatham. Among the airlines making the trip are Cape Air, Island Air, and Nantucket Airlines, all of which also fly between Hyannis, Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard.

For Mom and Dad
The inn's spa was an instant hit when it first opened a few years ago, so much that it quickly became a go-to destination in the region. The facility spared no expense with special treatment rooms with steam showers, Vichy showers used to wash off exfoliating scrubs while the guest remains on the table, and hydrotherapy tubs. In addition to more traditional Swedish and deep-tissue massages, the spa offers a special ocean-inspired massage with flowing strokes and warmed stones and seashells, an refreshing outdoor massage in a private poolside cabana, and a 90-minute signature treatment in which powdered local herbs and sea algae is massaged into the skin.

For the perfect night out, couples routinely choose dinner at Abba, one of the Cape's romantic restaurants. The menu is a spicy fusion of Mediterranean cuisines prepared by Israeli chef Erez Pinhas, enhanced by the flickering candlelight from Moroccan tea glasses.